Jack Carr
In arguably the greatest golf moment of his young life, Jack Carr briefly stepped away from the festivities to do what all good boys and girls should.
The West High senior grabbed his phone and called his mother from just outside the Anchorage Golf Course clubhouse.
“She was crying while in the Target, man,” Carr said while grasping the Anchorage Open title trophy and framed commemorative flag. “She was just so happy for me.”
Carr, 17, birdied his final two holes Sunday to card a superlative 3-under par 69 in the final round of the 36-hole course championship. The colossal close helped Carr beat local legend Benjie Sumulong by one stroke and 2019 Alaska State Amateur champ Russell Marion by two for the men’s overall crown.
Marion entered the tournament’s last day with a one-shot lead on Sumulong and four-stroke cushion on Carr.
“It means so much to win the club championship on my home course,” Carr said.
Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Sumulong, 65, has been a mainstay in the Southcentral golf scene since first arriving in Alaska in the early 1980s. The native of the Philippines has seen it all while virtually winning all there is to win in Last Frontier links play. Competitive and skilled as they come, Sumulong said he was thrilled to see someone 48 years his junior earn a well-deserved victory.
“I love seeing the kids play like this,” he said. “Passing it on to the younger (players) is fine by me.”
Toyoko Hawkins won the overall women’s championship. She closed with a 6-over 78 on Sunday and downed South High senior Abigail Ante by one stroke.
Like Carr, Ante grew up before the eyes of everyone at AGC and nearby Moose Run. Also similar to Carr, she’s tasked with playing the game in pressure situations against adults who may be more interested in personal success than nurturing up-and-coming kids.
Carr and Ante aim to play collegiately after graduating high school in about 10 months, and both have fielded interest from Outside schools. Maybe then they can get around to competing against players closer to their age?
Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
“It can be intimidating,” said Ante, about as shy as she is talented. “Most of these women have been playing half their life and I’m only 17.”
Regardless, Ante is appreciative of her competitors and the local golf community at large.
“I’ve made a lot of progress this summer, shot in the 70s a few times and am very proud of that,” she said. “It does feel really good to know people at this course and all around will be rooting for me. No matter where I go, I’ll have that support.”
The Anchorage Open welcomed 81 total players. Anchorage’s Moose Run Golf Course, Kenai’s Birch Ridge, Palmer Golf Course and Knik’s Settlers Bay held similar club/course championship events as early as mid-July.
Surely, these tournaments share with others courses around the country in determining bragging rights until next season. But have you looked over the globe recently? Alaska isn’t like other golf-friendly locales in the Lower 48 and elsewhere. Golfers get maybe 5.5 months to feed the need for birdies and pars before clubs give way to snow shovels.
Maybe that’s why the culmination of the Anchorage Open on Sunday and previous local tourneys like it often take on such a celebratory tone?
“Golfers here are so unique,” Carr said.
Danny Andrews said he’s most impressed by the dedication Southcentral golfers show in such a short season. He finished second to Sal Addonisio in the men’s third flight yet received an ovation worthy of a Masters champion during the awards ceremony.
Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
You see, Andrews is in his second season as one of AGC’s most-popular player’s assistants. The 10-year Anchorage resident and other men and women part timers spend hours each summer helping golfers enjoy the best on-course experience. PAs work to keep players moving – pace of play is part of golf’s litany of rules, by the way – all while maintaining as positive an attitude as possible.
“The employee handbook describes the PA as the ambassador of the course,” said Andrews, who’s thick North Carolina accent only adds to his homespun charm. “It’s all about hospitality with me.”
Andrews exudes so much wholesomeness, it’s like he walked off “The Andy Griffith Show” set. But he was playing in a tournament this weekend. He wasn’t quite as jovial.
Or so said Addonisio, a popular Anchorage chef and caterer. He of the New York accent ready-made for central casting in a Scorsese film.
“From player’s assistant to player, Danny was a little different,” Addonisio said with a chuckle. “A little more serious, not as many jokes. But still very polite – like he always is out here on the course.”
2022 Southcentral Alaska Course Champions
Anchorage Open
Aug. 27-28
Anchorage Golf Course
Female
Championship Flight – Toyoko Hawkins 158 (36-hole gross score)
Senior Championship – Mindy Stefanski 177
Male
Championship – Jack Carr 145
First – Kyle Bailey 157
Second – Jason Kim 174
Third – Sal Addonisio 190
Senior Championship – Gary Cox 160
Senior First – Jeffrey Sinz 164
Senior Second – Chuck Heath 203
Super Senior –Tim Connolly 174Arctic Valley Open
July 16-17
Moose Run Golf Course
Female
Abigail Ante
Male
First – Adam Baxter
Second – Ky Hubble
Senior – Michael Mora
Kenai Peninsula Open
July 15-17
Birch Ridge Golf Course
Male
Nolan RosePalmer Club Championship
Aug. 20-21
Palmer Golf Course
Female
Championship – Toyoko Hawkins 173
Senior Championship – Teresa Fisher 162
Male
Championship – Nick Brawner 146
Senior Championship – Benjie Sumulong 143Settlers Bay Course Championship
Aug. 14-15
Settlers Bay Golf Course
Female
Championship – Tonnette Jackson 164
Male
Championship – Max Escobedo 152
Senior Championship – Benjie Sumulong 139
Super Senior – Jim Godsby 164